Sven Nys Goes Moto

A few days ago Sven mentioned a new endeavor called “project M” on his blog. Now however all is revealed: Sven Nys will ride motocross! As if Sven Nys, arguably the best technical ‘crosser in the business, needs any more work on his skills!

Sven Nys (33) just had another very good winter. The Landbouwkrediet-Colnago cyclocross rider became Belgian cyclocross champion, won the coveted GVA Trophy and took the bronze at the UCI World Cyclocross championship at Tabor. But that doesn’t mean Nys is resting on his laurels. A few weeks ago he started the preparation for a new mountainbiking season. And besides all the cycling commitments he has a new challenge: motocross, or project “M” as he called it up until now.

Project “M” is the realization of one of Sven’s childhood dreams, as the former BMX rider once dreamt about a career as a motocross rider. Professional as he is, Nys takes things very serious and now has a specific training regime he established with his coach Paul Van Den Bosch. As a former physical trainer of riders like Georges Jobé, Van Den Bosch knows what motocross is about. Stefan Everts and Marnicq Bervoets will help Nys to sharpen his motocross riding technique.

Sven Nys: “Stefan Everts offered me to take part in his charity event, Everts & Friends, on July 21. He probably never thought I’d accept the challenge, but he probably doesn’t know me that well. It was Stefan who gave me my first tuition a motocross bike. It felt right from the start, so that’s why I have some ambition. My goal is to make a good impression on July 21th, complete the race and have a good time on the motorcycle. If that goes well, I could try my hand at motocross on a national level. However, my priorities remain in cycling: cyclocross and the cross-country mountainbike competition during the 2012 Olympics in London.”

Stefan Everts: “I was quite surprised when Sven returned my call to confirm his participation at the Everts & Friends charity event. I just didn’t expect that. And I certainly never thought he would be that handy on a motorcycle. Sven is just a natural. It just proves how complete he is as an athlete. It’s too late for him to become a world champion, but he should be more than able to enjoy himself on a motorcycle. So why not? Michael Schumacher raced Superbikes just for fun. And in the past cyclists such as Roger De Vlaeminck and Roland Liboton rode motocross as well.

Everts & Friends is a unique motocross charity. The fifth edition of the event takes place on July 21th at the Horenbergsdam motocross track in Genk, Belgium. There are also loads of other things going on at the track: activities for kids, a freestyle-motocross demo and a big fan party. As in previous editions, the Everts & Friends Charity Race will benefit charities selected by Stefan Everts that focus mainly on kids and young people: ‘Een Hart voor Limburg’ (Koning Boudewijnstichting), ‘Make a Wish,’Ter Heide (a centre specialized in persons with special needs) and Fondatioun Kriibskrank Kanner (a Luxemburg-Belgian fund for kids with cancer). Check out the video with Sven Nys and Stefan Everts below:

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